Dallas County reports increase in syphilis cases

Dallas County health officials reported that new syphilis infections have increased this year, a trend that some observers said could be related to greater public awareness of the disease.

In the first six months of this year, 113 people in the county were treated for primary and secondary syphilis, the most infectious stages of the disease. A total of 170 people were treated in 2005.

Statewide numbers show a similar increase, with 514 new cases through June, compared with 879 last year.

"It is somewhat worrisome that we are seeing an increase," said Dr. Steven Wilson, director of the sexually transmitted disease division at Dallas County Health and Human Services.

The latest numbers are up from 2000, when 97 people in Dallas County were treated for syphilis.

Wilson said the recent increase is a concern but warned against drawing too many conclusions from six months of data. Dallas health officials planned to study the numbers for more insight and to ask local physicians to be alert for cases.

"We're just trying to stay on top of it," Wilson said.

He said the recent Dallas numbers show an increase in cases among heterosexuals, while the disease has generally been most common among men who have sex with other men.

The data also shows an increase among younger people, with about 30 percent of total cases detected in people younger than 25.

Health officials said factors that could affect the rise in syphilis cases include local population increases and greater awareness of the disease resulting from campaigns aimed at eliminating it.

Paul Clarkson, director of the La Sima Foundation, said syphilis rates have been on the rise since 2000.

He said there's no easy explanation for the increase but that education campaigns urging people to get tested are a major factor. His community organization tests about two dozen people a day, he said.

"When there's more screening going on, there's going to be an increase in the number of cases," he said.